What we know about Alex Pretty’s death

Federal agents shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Saturday, the second person shot in the city this month during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown.

Local officials identified the man as 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen who lives in Minneapolis and works as a nurse.

Video has emerged showing a scuffle between Border Patrol agents and the man leading up to the shooting. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said agents fired in self-defense after Preeti, who was allegedly armed with a handgun, refused to disarm him.

Witnesses, local officials and the victim’s family disputed that account, noting that he was holding a cellphone, not a weapon. His parents accused the government of spreading “disgusting lies” about what happened. “Please find out the truth about our son,” they added.

The incident, which occurred two weeks after Renee Nicole Goode was fatally shot by immigration agents, sparked further protests and local leaders renewed calls for federal agents to leave the city.

Here’s what we know so far.

The shooting occurred at 9:05 a.m. local time (15:05 GMT) on Saturday near Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street in south Minneapolis.

Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino said agents were conducting a “targeted” immigration enforcement operation when Preti approached the agents with a “9mm semi-automatic” handgun.

Bovino did not specify whether Pretty was brandishing a gun but said agents tried to disarm him but he “resisted vigorously.” A Border Patrol agent then “fired defensively,” the commander said.

Video from before the shooting shows Preti filming agents with her cell phone in the middle of the street. Whistling and shouting from onlookers could be heard in the background.

From one angle, an agent appears to be pushing a woman. When the camera pans to Preeti, he can be seen wrapping his arms around her. The agent then pushed the second woman away. Preity, meanwhile, held out her arm, standing between her and the agent.

Agents then sprayed a substance into his eyes. Preity turned her face and raised an open hand in the air. In his other hand he appeared to be holding a mobile phone. No gun visible.

Another video from a different angle shows agents grabbing Pretty’s arm before more agents intervene. Preity was thrown to the ground with at least six agents on her. An agent can be seen attacking him in the head.

Another officer appeared to approach the melee unarmed, but took a step back as he appeared to have a gun in his hand. As he walked toward a vehicle, a split second later, another agent standing next to him opened fire.

The agents jumped back from the man lying on the ground and the shooting continued. A total of 10 gunshots were heard.

After the shooting, the Department of Homeland Security shared a photo of a gun on social media that they said belonged to Preeti. The agency also said he had two ammunition caches but no identification.

Bovino told reporters it looked like “a situation where one person wanted to cause maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.” He did not provide any further evidence.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said at a news conference that Pretty is believed to be a legal gun owner with a gun permit. As far as police know, his only previous interactions with law enforcement were related to parking tickets.

The police chief also said the Department of Homeland Security had not provided his team with “any specific details” about the fatal incident itself, a sign of tensions between federal and local authorities.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was later asked to clarify whether Pretty had brandished a gun.

She said: “Some people showed up to obstruct law enforcement operations and assaulted our officers.

“They responded according to their training and took action to protect the life of the officer and the public around him. And, I don’t know of any peaceful protesters who showed up with guns and ammunition instead of signs.”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, said he understands the risks of people trying to witness and document the actions of federal agents.

“Thank God, thank God we have the video, because according to the Department of Homeland Security, there was a battalion of these heroic guys pounding them or whatever. That’s nonsense, people. That’s nonsense, it’s a lie.”

Alex Pretti’s parents, Michael and Susan, are calling for the “truth” to be told about their son after he was shot and killed during a confrontation with federal immigration officials.

“We are heartbroken but also outraged,” they said in a family statement, according to multiple U.S. media reports. “The government’s sickening lies about our son are reprehensible and disgusting.”

They added that video showed Preti was not holding a gun when he was restrained by federal agents. Instead, they said, he was holding his cellphone in one hand and protecting a woman who was being pepper-sprayed with the other.

“Alex was a kind-hearted man who cared deeply about his family and friends, as well as the U.S. veterans he cared for while serving as an intensive care unit nurse at the Minneapolis VA Hospital.

“Alex wanted to change the world. Unfortunately, he won’t be with us to see his impact.

“Please know the truth about our son. He is a good man.”